Thursday, December 27, 2007

AN ARMED ROBBER SEIZED THE MOMENT

There is the story of one man who foolishly bungled his last chance. He was an armed robber and it was clear to everyone that he deserved to die. No one cared that his destiny was to spend his eternal lifetime burning in hell fire. No one cared that he now felt bad about the things he had done and wished for an opportunity to repent and live his life differently. He was being executed slowly and the pain was unbearable. He wished the pain to end, but it was clear that this end would only bring greater pain and unimaginable torment. He was doomed and it seemed there was no way out.

His cohort and friend was going through the same torture but he saw things differently. They were both hanging on their crosses beside the man called Jesus. His friend decided to take a chance.

He would never be baptized, take Holy Communion, attend a church service or witness to a lost soul. He would never be able to give tithes or offerings, read his bible or dress like a Christian. He would not have a chance to obey the Ten Commandments to prove that he loved the Lord.

But then a thought crossed his mind. How many people, at that moment, had the Saviour of the universe so close to them? He saw a divine opportunity, a last chance and he decided to take it. He turned to Jesus and with the knowledge of the fact that this man could actually save his soul, he said…

“Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom….”

He expected to be ignored, rebuked, rejected; but rather the same Jesus who had at one time confided in His disciples “If anyone comes to me, I will in no wise cast him out.”

Also now replied him by saying

Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” Luke 23: 42

A couple of hours later, this man marched boldly with Jesus into heaven for all eternity.

Sadly, His friend was escorted into hell also, for all eternity. He had been at the border of His miracle but he didn’t see it.

Talk about seizing the moment…

2008 is another opportunity, another chance for us to live our purpose, to expand our vision and enlarge the place of our tent. To deepen our relationship with God and become all we are meant to be. Let’s prepare to seize the moment

I wish you all a Happy New Year in Advance….

Monday, December 24, 2007

Gbala's Party

Mr. Gbala heard from the grapevine that his family and friends were planning a surprise birthday party for him. They probably didn't want him to catch on yet but it was quite obvious. They hired a hall for the event, they hired caterers, bought gifts and expensive clothes and shoes for the party.

Everything became clearer when he stumbled on the invitation card; the party was to start at 12noon. He was proud of his friends. Obviously they loved him. He had planned surprise parties himself and so he knew the joy and awe it could bring to the celebrant. He waited patiently for the day to come.

Very early in the morning of the d-day, he went on his knees and thanked God for surrounding him with such wonderful people. And then he waited ... and waited...

No one came for him, no one said anything. When it was about 4p.m. in the evening, he could take it no longer and decided to go to the venue. Something must have gone wrong; who knows, the person they sent to inform him may have taken a wrong turn.

He was surprised to see the party already in full swing. A guard stopped him at the door and told him clearly - No gate crashing please, you are not invited.

But it's my birthday and this is my party, he explained.

The guard was quite cocky as he replied, I know it is your party but the fact is that you are not invited. Please leave ….

Gbala was sad as he turned and walked away with his head down. His friends were not interested in him, they only wanted a good time in his name.

At this point I will like to wish you a Merry Merry Christmas and to remind you not to forget the reason for the season. It is to celebrate Jesus and to thank Him for the burden he bore to secure our salvation

Someone asked me over the weekend about the significance of the colors red and green used as Christmas symbols. I don’t really know for sure, but I think an attempt must be made so that we are not celebrating without knowing the reason for the season. So here goes…

RED – represents the blood that Jesus shed on the Cross of calvary as the price to redeem us from our sins and a sinful life.

Green is the color of life. Therefore, green symbolizes the potential for eternal life that Jesus' sacrifice made possible for all of us.

The lights on the Christmas tree and the star on top are all meant to remind us of the new star that appeared to proclaim the birth of the promised Messiah. The Messiah has come already and it is left for us to be saved

The bells on the Christmas tree are a reminder of the bells worn by sheep. Bells are a means for the shepherd to find the sheep that have wandered from the flock and become lost. If we make fall into sin, there is still a way for us to rise and find our way back to our saviour.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

Monday, December 17, 2007

It Wasn't Easy

This song is for you. I hope someday I will become IT savy enough to load music onto my blog but meanwhile just think on the powerful lyrics of this song from Cece Winnans - Alabastar Box.

It Wasn't Easy by Cece Winnans

Don't think for a moment
I never felt the pain
You can't imagine
The hurt and the shame
They put the nails through my hands
Pierced my side, please understand

It wasn't easy, but it was worth it
It wasn't easy, it wasn't easy
It wasn't easy but it was worth it
It wasn't easy, it wasn't easy
It wasn't easy but it was worth it

I didn't have to do it
But I did it anyway 'cause I really love you
So much I took your place
I died for your sins
Yes I'm the one
Don't take it lightly
What I've done

It wasn't easy, but it was worth it

I left my throne
My purpose was the cross
Shed innocent blood
I paid the cost

It wasn't easy, But it was worth it

The Redeemed Church and It's Auditorium

The News of 11th December 2007 wrote an article under the above caption last week tuesday. The article has generated extensive debates and drawn significant ire from Nigerians who in typical fashion love to debate, deliberate and adjudicate. Nothing wrong with that and I will like to make my own contributions by stating what I consider to be the facts below:

1) I have tried to get the source of this N7.7b (which The News did not quote). I don’t have it yet. And so I realize that it is based on this unsubstantiated figure many have passed judgment already. (If you are reading and you have a verifiable source, please do let me know)

2) The report says, the auditorium is floored with Marble! I was there on Saturday; I looked for marble but found none. What I saw was - a few metres just in front of the altar floored with Interlocking stones. The rest of the auditorium (about 90%) wasn’t even floored at all; except to say it was floored with sand – red earth. How do I know, I had to wash my dusty feet when I got home.

3) The structure of the auditorium is simply – Pillars, holding up a roof, no walls, no partitioning. This same space has been used for the church convention for many years; the only difference is that now it is covered – at the top – to keep out the sun in the afternoon and some of the cold at night. Also there are enough lights for everyone to read and see clearly. I looked at the whole structure again; I am neither an architect nor a builder, so pardon me; but I did not see N7.7b.

4) Some people have said that RCCG and Adeboye do not need one million people to gather together for any sound reason…. And I tend to agree.

But Maybe God does have a reason. The world has the same millions who gather in the world today as they worship football, Hollywood idols, music stars, and other false Gods. These same millions that Revelation 4: 11 declares are created to worship God.

The only thing we can give to God is worship. In heaven that is what they do now, and that is what we will do when we get there. I strongly believe God is pleased when tens, hundreds, thousand or millions of those who love Him, gather together here and give him pleasure by worshipping him.

5) Whatever amount was used on this building, some believe it should have been used to feed the poor. That’s what they told Mary too when she bought expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus feet. They would have preferred if she had brought the money to them so they could give it to the poor. But Jesus immediately rebuked them and confirmed his right to receive worship, even if it costs money.

In addition to this, I am glad to say that the church does take care of the poor – scholarships, rehabilitation of Area boys/ prostitutes, rent and so on, are provided from the centre and by each Parish to the best of its ability.


I respect Pastor Adeboye for one major reason – his humility. I have heard him preach a message and come back months later to say that He now has a deeper understanding and retract what he earlier said. I have seen people give him gifts and have seen him immediately give them out to others who need them more. I see the simplicity of his lifestyle, his dressing and his possessions. Until I knew him, I thought a preacher had to shout and demonstrate before power can follow his messages; but this man speaks simply and gently and men are moved to repentance and seeking their creator.

No one is perfect and so I would rather pray for him,
  • that God will keep Him from ever going astray;
  • that God will give him more wisdom to execute the daunting task of leadership and
  • that God will continue to make him a respected voice in this generation.


CREATED TO WORSHIP

Last week was hectic for me at work and I couldn’t take the full opportunity of a retreat that the annual Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God usually affords. But I was there on Saturday evening for a few hours and I saw - - - a glimpse of heaven.

No I didn’t fall into a trance, neither did I see a vision. What I saw was a picture of what i think heaven will be like. I saw scores of people raise their hands together to the one true God in worship. I saw people dance with ab
andon, somewhat close to the famous King David’s dance – a dance that may draw the contempt of men but draws applause from God. I saw people fall on their face and cry out their love for their creator.

Just before the close of the program, the 1000 large mass choir left their seats and rejoiced in front of the altar. (Picture here) You could almost touch the joy that gathered like a cloud in the atmosphere.

One of the climatic moments was when we all sang

Awesome God, Mighty God
We give you praise
Awesome God
You are highly lifted up Awesome God
You are highly lifted up Mighty God…..

As I stood and watched the unfolding events, the word that dropped in my heart was – Heaven and just then I remembered
Revelation 7:9-12.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
"Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

I realized that we doing the one thing we were created to do – to WORSHIP
.

Monday, December 3, 2007

GOD IS DRAWN TO OUR PRAISE

Paul and his co-missionary Silas where arrested one day because they dared to rebuke an evil spirit in the course of sharing the good news of salvation. (Acts Chapter 16). As a result they were beaten, their clothes were torn and they were put in the inner prison with their feet bound in stocks.They were being punished for doing God’s work.
As they sat together waiting in chains, they had a number of options.
1) They could have complained to God about how He had forsaken them in the face of their obedience or about how they were receiving a poor reward for their pursuit of His will.
2) They could have cursed those that persecuted them and commanded them to become blind. And they might have been justified.

But rather they did something we will all find very strange…


They started singing songs of praise to God. They worshipped him from their heart. They probably told him that in spite of their trials, they did not doubt that He was still the Great and Mighty God, Great in counsel, mighty in deed. The other prisoners heard their songs and must have wondered what manner of man they were.
The next thing everyone knew was that there was a mighty earthquake. The foundations of the prison shook; the doors flung open and everyone’s chains were loosed.

That night Paul and Silas became free men.

What accounted for the earthquake and their miraculous deliverance. Psalm 22:3 gives us a clue. It says - God inhabits the Praises of His people.



Just take a moment to imagine…

They praised God! God heard and His heart was drawn to the love and faith they had in Him; so He came down and entered into the prison. The foundations shook because no building can contain God and remain the same.
(

His promise to inhabit our praises is all the solution we need because no problem can really stand in the face of our Almighty God.
This reminds me somewhat of Incredible Hulk and His clothes, if you know what I mean.)
God's presence in response to their praise, led to an earthquake and their freedom.

Wonderful story about how we need to keep our focus on God regardless of our trials and problems. In everything, let us give thanks. God is bigger than every problem we may be facing.